With the holiday season underway, the Better Business Bureau issued a recent warning about “puppy scams,” which historically comprise about a fourth of online shopping frauds.
“Puppy scams remain consistently profitable for scammers because their multi-tiered setup allows them to convincingly go back to a consumer several times to ask for money,” the BBB reported in a news release.
“Because purchasing a pet can be such an emotionally charged experience, BBB urges consumers to be on high alert for scams.”
California ranks first nationwide in online puppy-scam activity, with 167 reports totaling more than $130,000 in financial losses filed between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 of this year, according to the website Veterinarians.org.
Many of the bogus websites appear and vanish quickly, making them difficult for authorities to track and prosecute.
And while consumer losses across North America are on the decline, they’re still expected to exceed more than $2 million this year, with an average loss of about $850 per case, says the BBB.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) already cautions against giving pets as holiday gifts, recommending it only for those expressing a “sustained interest” in owning and caring for a pet responsibly.
“We also recommend that pets be obtained from animal shelters, rescue organizations, friends, family or responsible breeders — not from places where the source of the animal is unknown or untrusted,” the ASPCA’s website says.
According to the BBB, puppy scammers typically lure in their victims with fake websites and promises of cute puppies, then seek additional money for add-ons such as shipping costs or special crates.
Yorkies, dachshunds and French bulldogs account for nearly 30 percent of the scams, although victims mentioned more than 40 different breeds when filing reports with the BBB, “meaning that buyers should be cautious when shopping for any breed online.”
Those who try buying pets without seeing them in person, use hard-to-track payment methods such as payment apps and accept extra charges such as shipping insurance or special cages are at more risk of being scammed, the BBB says.
The BBB offers the following tips for researching online puppy sellers:
- See pets in-person before paying any money.
- Try to set up a video call to view the animal.
- Conduct a reverse image search on photos attached to ads.
- Research the breed to figure out the average market price.
- Check out a local animal shelter for pets to meet in person before adopting.
If you’ve fallen victim to a puppy scam, contact the following organizations for help:
- BBB Scam Tracker (www.bbb.org/scamtracker) to report online fraud.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov to file a complaint online, or call 877-FTC-HELP.
- Your credit card issuer – Report the incident if you shared your credit card number, even if the transaction was not completed. Monitor your statements and request a refund if you suspect fraud.
- Petscams.com (petscams.com/report-pet-scam-websites) which tracks complaints, catalogues puppy scammers and works to shut down fake pet-sales websites.
Meanwhile, in pet-gifting situations, the ASPCA suggests the recipient have a flexible schedule that allows for the pet’s easy transition into the home, “especially important during the holidays and other busy times,” the website says.
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